Magazine stackerts



N. J. MANDONAS MAGAZINE STACKERS Oct. 8, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FjiledJuly 27. 1961 w @Qs IN VENTUQ N .J. /77 NEDA/F75 fl UR m/E Oct 8, 1 N.J. MANDONAS I 3,106,302

' MAGAZINE STACKERS Filed July 27, 1961 s Sheets-Sheet 2 as ,6 2c

/ NVE'NT'UR' Oct. 8, 1963 N. J. MANDONAS 3,106,302

MAGAZINE STACKERS Filed July 27, 1961 s Sheets-Sheet 3 v mmlmmu l.[NVE'NT'UFQ W N. J. m/ INUUNFE United States Patent This inventionrelates to magazine stackers, particularly magazine stackers forwafer-like articles such as mica laminations.

In the manufacture of electrical units of mica laminations, there arevarious processing steps through which the laminations must travel. Itis important that due to the delicate or brittle nature of the micalaminations and, further, due to the importance of keeping thelaminations free of foreign substances which they may be subjected toduring handling, that the laminations be stacked in suitable magazinessubsequent to certain of the processing steps.

iAn object of the invention is a magazine stacker which is simple instructure and highly eflicient in stacking wafer-like articles.

In accordance with the object, the invention comprises a magazinestacker for receiving successive wafer-like articles of like contoursfrom a conveyor, guiding the articles in fixed paths to a magazine andcausing the articles to drop singly therein.

More specifically, the magazine in the present instance is composed offour pairs of parallel rods supported by end members, one of which has arectangular main aperture therein of a contour substantially identicalto the contours of the like articles and with the rods disposed inapertures so that each inner surface of the main aperture is tangentwith its respective pair of rods, causing for the articles stacked inthe magazine.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdetailed description when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

r the rods to function as guide-s and retaining members FIG. 1 is a topplan view of the magazine stacker,

portions thereof being broken away;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line22 of FIG; 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary isometric view of a portion of one of thestacking units.

In the present illustration, a main conveyor 10 in the form of a belt ofa predetermined width is caused to travel through a treating unit, notshown, to bring about one of the processing steps for different types ofarticles 11, 12, 13, and 14, which may be, for example, mica laminationsof similar thicknesses but of difierent sizes,

that is, different lengths and widths.

The articles are placed on the belt '10 in their respective positionsbut they may be caused to be positioned out of alignment with each otherin their travel toward their respective magazines, indicated generaly at15, 16,

3,106,302 Patented Oct. 8, 1963 stood that the only differences lie inthe dimensions desired for their particular articles. The structureshown in FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrates the main belt 10 which, in travelingfor a considerable distance over suitable supporting means, including aroller 24 on a drive shaft 25, is guided so that its upper surface 26will lie in a given plane and that its path of travel will be adjacentthat plane. The structure shown in FIG. 2 includes a receiving unit 28supporting a chute 29 having a curved undersurface 30, partiallyconforming to the path of the belt or conveyor traveling about theroller 24, and extending from a sharp edge 31 which is positioned ashort distance beneath the plane 26 so that it will be positionedbeneath each article .13 as it is about to leave the conveyor 10.

The chute 28! has a wide mouth composed of arcuate surfaces 32 and 33 atthe sides thereof and a curved surface 34 at the bottom thereof to guideeach article 13 into a passageway 35 which is of a width substantiallyequalling, but slightly larger, than the width of the article 13. Atransfer belt or conveyor 38 is mounted on rollers 39 and 40 and causedto travel over a roller 41 so that the upper surface of the belt willreceive the successive articles 13 and transport them to the left withsufficient speed to be aligned with the magazine 17 in as near ahorizontal position as possible.

The roller 39 is driven by a motor 42 mounted on the frame 20 andprovided with a sprocket 43 on its drive shaft 44; A sprocket 45 ismounted on 'a spindle 46, FIG. 1, and connected to -the sprocket 43. bya chain 47. The rollers 39 for each of the various belts 38 areconnected by couplings 50 to provide a continuous drive connection withthe sprocket 45 between its supporting spindle 46 and an alignedsupporting spindle 51. Through this means, the belts or transportingconveyors 38 are driven simultaneously from the motor 42.

The magazines 15 to 18, inclusive, are adapted to be removably mountedin their respective positions and are identical with the exception oftheir lateral dimensions. In FIG. 2, the magazine 17 includes a bottommember -55 having pairs of rods 56 with their lower ends mounted fixedlytherein and positioned so that each pair of rods will constitute itsparticular side of the maga zine. An upper member 57 has an opening 58therein which is substantially equal in size, but slightly larger thanthe size of the articles 13 which are to be fed thereto. The rods 56 arepositioned in apertures disposed adjacent their respective sides of theopening 5 8 so that their respective sides of the opening will lietangent thereto. The rods 56 extend above the upper member 57 and arereceivable in apertures 59 of a nestl ike portion of the receiving unit28 so that there is a continuance in the joining of the opening 58 inthe upper member 57 with the adjacent portion including an end 69 of thepassageway 35.

There is a pair of equally spaced arms 62 at each position for removablysupporting the magazine to be located therein. The upper portions of thearm 62 are grooved to allow the bottom member 55 to nest thereinproviding side retaining members 63 and end retaining members 64-. Thearms 62 are supported by blocks 65 which -are supported for slidingmovement in a guideway 66 and normally urged toward each other bysprings 67 movably mounted therein by suitable means such as screws 21on members 22 and other portions of the frame depending upon thelocations selected on the belt 10 for their particular articles.

A description of one of these structures with its magazine will apply toall of the structures, it being underbacked up by blocks 68 at the endsand by companion blocks 65 in other instances.

Retaining screws 70 extend through elongated openings 71' in the blocks65 and are mounted in the lower portion of-the guide 66. When the arms62 are in the positions shown, they will'not'o-nly support the bottommembers 55 of their magazines but will perform a squeezing action as theresult of the force of the springs 67 to firmly hold the magazines inplace. 'Thumb screws 3 73 are threadedly mounted in brackets 74 whiletheir inner ends 75 are rounded to engage tapered surfaces '76 of theblocks 65 for each magazine to force the blocks and the arms away fromeach other to free the magazine, when loaded, so that the magazine maybe removed and an empty magazine positioned to receive the articles.

With the arms 62, in each instance, spaced a sufficient distance apart,the magazine may be lowered to remove the upper ends of the rods 56 fromthe apertures 59 of its nest and through a reverse action, an emptymagazine may be located on the arms. Each magazine is provided with anelement 89 positioned to rest normally on the bottom member 55 and toride in the space provided by the pairs of rods 56. A spring-pressedplunger 81 is movably supported in an aperture 82 of the element and hasa half nut 33 with a threaded portion 84 mounted on one end thereof, aknurled handle 85 being mounted on the other end of the plunger.

A drive screw 87, journalled in bearings 88 and 89 of brackets 96 and91, is provided for each of the magazines to 18, inclusive, andpositioned to be interengaged by the half nuts 83. A beveled gear 92 ismounted on the lower end of each drive screw 87 and is operativelyconnected to a motor 93 through a beveled gear 94 and a speed reductionunit 95. Through the aid of the half nut 83, the element 80 may belocated at any desired position, preferably adjacent the top member 57at the beginning of each stacking operation, the speed of the drivescrew being such that the element 80 will be lowered a distanceequalling the thickness of each article 13 as each article moves to theend of its passageway 35 and is ready to enter the magazine. Thisoperation continues until the magazine is filled, at which time, theelement 80 will be adjacent the bottom member 55 and the half nut 83will have engaged a head 96 of a plunger 97 and actuated a switch $8into open position, the switch 98 being in a circuit including the motor93.

Operation Let it be assumed that all of the magazines 15 to 18,inclusive, are empty and that the shaft 25 is driven to start movementof the articles 11 to 1-4, inclusive, on the plane 26 of the conveyor orbelt 10 toward the mouths of their various chutes. The sharp edges 31 ofthe chutes are positioned to lie beneath the successive articles as theymove from the conveyor on the plane 26 of the upper surface of the belt10. Therefore, the successive articles 111 to 14, inclusive, approachingand entering the various mouths of their chutes, will be guided as aresult of the curved surfaces 32 and 33 into alignment with theirrespective passageways 35 where they will be caused to slide downsurfaces 34 onto the transporting belts or conveyors 38. With the belts33 traveling at a desired speed, the articles will be caused to travelsubstantially horizontally to the ends of their passageways 35 wherethey will be aligned with the magazines and caused to drop therein.

Initially the element 80 in each magazine is at its top position readyto receive the first article, in each instance, and to be loweredthrough the driving of the screw 87, acting on the half nut 83 in eachinstance, so that the increasing stack of articles in each magazine willbe lowered to maintain the upper portion of the stack in substantiallythe same position until the magazine, in each instance, is full. At thistime, the switch 98 in the circuit to the motor 93 will be operated opendeenergizing the motor and stopping the drive screw. If desired, thedrive for the shaft 25 of the roller 24 of the main conveyor or belt 10may be included in any one or all of the circuits for the motor 93causing it to stop when the magazines are filled. At this time, themagazines may be removed individually through the actuation of the thumbscrews 73 to space the arms 62 to permit the magazines to be loweredsutficiently to remove the upper ends of the rods 56 from the apertures59 of the principles of the invention.

nest, after which the magazine may be tilted in any desired manner andremoved after the plunger 8i, through the aid of the handle 85, is movedto the left sufficiently to disengage the half nut 83 from the drivescrew 87.

After the filled magazines are removed, empty maga zines may be insertedin a similar manner keeping the half nut 83, in each instance, free ofits drive screw 87 until the magazine is located with the upper ends ofthe rods in the apertures 59 of the nest and the lower member 55 restingon the arms 62. At this time, the element 80, through the connection ofthe half nut 83 with the drive screw 87, is located in its up orstarting position.

It is to be understood that the above described arrangements are simplyillustrative of the application of the Numerous other arrangements maybe readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody theprinciples of the invention and fall within the spirit and scopethereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A magazine stacker, for receiving successive wafer like articles oflike contours from a conveyor traveling longitudinally with its uppersurface in a plane of a given path and traveling downwardly about aroller when leaving the path, comprising:

a receiving unit mounted at a fixed position adjacent the roller,

a chute for the receiving unit mounted adjacent the roller and having anentrance edge disposed adjacent to but beneath the plane of the givenpath so that the successive articles will move over the entrance edgeand into the chute,

magazines singly adapted to receive the successive a1- ticles in stackedformation from the receiving unit and be removed from the receiving unitwhen filled with the articles,

elements adapted to removably support the magazines singly incooperation with the receiving unit,

means disposed in the receiving unit to removably receive and locate theupper end of each magazine relative to the chute,

means disposed in the receiving unit to convey the articles from thechute to the magazine,

the receiving unit having a passageway substantially equaling the widthof each article extending from the chute to the magazine, and

a mouth for the chute open wide at the entrance edge and having guidesurfaces curving inwardly to the passageway.

2. A magazine stacker, for receiving successive waferlike articles oflike contours from a conveyor traveling longitudinally with its uppersurface in a plane of a given path and traveling downwardly about aroller when leaving the path, comprising:

a receiving unit mounted at a fixed position adjacent the roller,

a chute for the receiving unit mounted adjacent the roller and having anentrance edge disposed adjacent to but beneath the plane of the givenpath so that the successive articles will move over the entrance edgeand into the chute,

magazines singly adapted to receive the successive articles in stackedformation from the receiving unit and be removed from the receiving unitwhen filled with the articles,

elements adapted to removably support the magazines singly incooperation with the receiving unit,

means disposed in the receiving unit to removably receive and locate theupper end of each magazine relative to the chute,

means disposed in the receiving unit to convey the articles from thechute to the magazine,

the receiving unit having a passageway substantially equaling the widthof each article extending from the chute to the magazine,

. '5 a mouth for the chute open wide at the entrance edge and havingguide surfaces curving inwardly to the passageway, the conveying meansin the receiving unit including relative to each other and the magazineto free the magazine for movement into and out of the nests. 5. Amagazine stacker, for receiving successive Waferlike articles of likecontours from a conveyor traveling a transfer belt mounted on rollersand extending longitudinally with its upper surface in a plane of agiven from a position adjacent the mouth of the chute to a positionadjacent the magazine, and a means to drive the belt to transferarticles successively through the passageway to the magazine.

3. A magazine stacker, for receiving successive waferlike articles oflike contours from a conveyor traveling longitudinally with its uppersurface in a plane of a given path and traveling downwardly about aroller when leaving the path, comprising:

a receiving unit mounted at a fixed position adjacent the roller, y

a chute for the receiving unit mounted adjacent the roller and having anentrance edge disposed adjacent to but beneath the plane of the givenpath so that the successive articles will move over the entrance edgeand into the chute,

magazines singly adapted to receive the successive articles in stackedformation from the receiving unit and be removed from the receivingunit'when filled with'the articles, I elements adapted to removablysupport the magazines singly in cooperation with the receiving unit,means disposed in the receiving unit to removably receive and locate theupper end of each magazine relative to the chute,

means disposed in the receiving unit to convey the articles from thechute to the magazine,

each magazine including parallel rods disposed in their respectivepositions to be engaged by all edges of the successive articles tomaintain the articles against lateral displacement,

a bottom member fixed to lower ends of the rods, and

an upper member having an opening to receive the articles and aperturesadjacent thereto to receive and hold the rods.

4. A magazine stacker, for receiving successive waferlike articles oflike contours from a conveyor traveling longitudinally with its uppersurface in a plane of a given path and traveling downwardly about aroller when leaving the path, comprising: i

a receiving unit mounted at a fixed position adjacent the roller,

a chute for the receiving unit mounted adjacent the roller and having anentrance edge disposed adjacent to but beneath the plane of the givenpath so that the successive articles will move over the entrance edgeand into the chute,

magazines singly adapted to receive the successive ar ticles in stackedformation from the receiving unit and be removed from the receiving unitwhen filled a with the articles,

elements adapted to removably support the magazines singly incooperation with the receiving unit,

means disposed in the receiving unit to removably receive and locate theupper end of each magazine relative to the chute,

means disposed in the receiving unit to convey the articles from thechute to the magazine,

each magazine including parallel rods disposed in their respectivepositions to be engaged by all edges of the successive articles tomaintain the articles against lateral displacement,

a bottom member fixed to the lower ends of the rods,

an upper member having an opening to receive the articles and aperturesadjacent thereto to receive and hold the rods,

a series of apertures for the rods in the receiving unit provide a nestfor the upper end of each magazine, 7

path and traveling downwardly about a roller when leaving the path,comprising:

7 a receiving unit mounted at a fixed position adjacent the roller, 1

a chute for the receiving unit mounted adjacent the roller and having anentrance edge disposed adjacent to but beneath the plane of the givenpath so that the successive articles will move over the entrance edgeand into the chute, 7

magazines singly adapted to receive the successive articles in stackedformation from the receiving unit and be removed from the receiving unitwhen filled with the articles,

elements adapted to removably support the magazines singly incooperation with the receiving unit,

means disposed in the receiving unit to removably receive and locate theupper end of each magazine relative to the chute,

means disposed in the receiving unit to convey the articles from thechute to the magazine,

each magazine including parallel rods disposed in their respectivepositions to be engaged by all edges of the successive articles tomaintain the articles against lateral displacement,

a bottom member fixed to lower ends of the rods,

an upper member having an opening to receive the articles and aperturesadjacent thereto to receive and hold the rods, j

an article supporting element permanently disposed in each magazineand'movable therein, and

a drive means operable to lower the supporting element from a positionadjacent the upper member a distance equaling substantially thethickness of each article as each article is fed to the magazine.

6. A magazine stacker, for receiving successive waferlike articles oflike contours from a conveyor traveling longitudinally with its uppersurface in a plane of a given path and traveling downwardly about aroller when leaving the path, comprising:

a receiving unit mounted at a fixed position adjacent the roller,

a chute for the receiving unit mounted adjacent the roller and having anentrance edge disposed adjacent to but beneath the plane of the givenpath so that the successive articles will move over the entrance edgeand into the chute,

magazines singly adapted to receive the successive articles in stackedformation from the receiving unit and be removed from the receiving unitwhen filled with the articles,

elements adapted to removably support the magazines singly incooperation with the receiving unit,

means disposed in the receiving unit to removably receive and locate theupper end of each magazine relative to the chute,

means disposed in the receiving unit to convey articles from the chuteto the magazine,

each magazine including parallel rods disposed in their respectivepositions to be engaged by all edges of the successive articles tomaintain the articles against lateral displacement,

a bottom member fixed to lower ends of the rods,

an upper member having an opening to receive the articles and aperturesadjacent thereto to receive and hold the rods,

an article supporting element permanently disposed in each magazine andmovable therein,

a drive means operable to lower the supporting element from a positionadjacent the upper member a disthe like articles of like contours from aconveyor traveling longitudinally with its upper surface in a plane of agiven path and traveling downwardly about a roller when leaving thepath, comprising:

a receiving unit mounted at a fixed position adjacent the roller,

a chute for the receiving unit mounted adjacent the roller and having anentrance edge disposed adjacent to but beneath the plane of the givenpath so that the successive articles will move over the entrance edgeand into the chute,

magazines singly adapted to receive the successive articles in stackedformation from the receiving unit and be removed from the receiving unitwhen filled with the articles,

elements adapted to removably support the magazines singly incooperation with the receiving unit,

means disposed in the receiving unit to removably receive and locate theupper end of each magazine relative to the chute,

means disposed in the receiving unit to convey the 3 articles from thechute to the magazine, each magazine including parallel rods disposed intheir respective positions to be engaged by all edges of the successivearticles to maintain the articles against lateral displacement,

a bottom member fixed to lower ends of the rods,

an upper member having an opening to receive the articles and aperturesadjacent thereto to receive and hold the rods,

an article supporting element permanently disposed in each magazine andmovable therein,

a drive means operable to lower the supporting element from a positionadjacent the upper member a distance equaling substantially thethickness of each article as each article is fed to the magazine,

the drive means including a drive screw mounted for rotation adjacentthe magazine and driven at a predetermined speed,

a half nut for each supporting element,

a spring pressed plunger carried by each supporting element and havingthe half nut therefor mounted on one end thereof for engagement with thedrive screw, and

a handle mounted on the other end of each plunger so that the half nutmay be disconnected from the drive screw and connected to the drivescrew at any desired position along its length.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS622,106 Berry Mar. 28, 1899 1,313,573 Beam Aug. 19, 1919 1,702,901Hungerford Feb. 19, 1929 2,119,561 Smith June 7, 1938 2,701,650Stevenson Feb. 8, 1955 2,797,098 Brodie June 25, 1957

1. A MAGAZINE STACKER, FOR RECEIVING SUCCESSIVE WAFERLIKE ARTICLE OFLIKE CONTOURS FROM A CONVEYOR TRAVELING LONGITUDINALLY WITH ITS UPPERSURFACES IN A PLANE OF A GIVEN PATH AND TRAVELING DOWNWARDLY ABOUT AROLLER WHEN LEAVING THE PATH, COMPRISING: A RECEIVING UNIT MOUNTED AT AFIXED POSITION ADJACENT THE ROLLER, A CHUTE FOR THE RECEIVING UNITMOUNTED ADJACENT THE ROLLER AND HAVING AN ENTRANCE EDGE DISPOSEDADJACENT TO BUT BENEATH THE PLANE OF THE GIVEN PATH SO THAT THESUCCESSIVE ARTICLES WILL MOVE OVER THE ENTRANCE EDGE AND INTO THE CHUTE,MAGAZINES SINGLY ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE SUCCESSIVE ARTICLES IN STACKEDFORMATION FROM THE RECEIVING UNIT AND BE REMOVED FROM THE RECEIVING UNITWHEN FILLED WITH THE ARTICLES, ELEMENTS ADAPTED TO REMOVABLY SUPPORT THEMAGAZINES SINGLY IN COOPERATION WITH THE RECEIVING UNIT, MEANS DISPOSEDIN THE RECEIVING UNIT TO REMOVABLY RECEIVE AND LOCATE THE UPPER END OFEACH MAGAZINE RELATIVE TO THE CHUTE, MEANS DISPOSED IN THE RECEIVINGUNIT TO CONVEY THE ARTICLES FROM THE CHUTE TO THE MAGAZINE, THERECEIVING UNIT HAVING A PASSAGEWAY SUBSTANTIALLY EQUALING THE WIDTH OFEACH ARTICLE EXTENDING FROM THE CHUTE TO THE MAGAZINE, AND A MOUTH FORTHE CHUTE OPEN WIDE AT THE ENTRANCE EDGE AND HAVING GUIDE SURFACESCURVING INWARDLY TO THE PASSAGEWAY.